Red Wings' Drake leaning toward retirement

AP PhotoDetroit's Dallas Drake, 39, appeared in all 22 postseason games during the Red Wings' run to the Stanley Cup.

DETROIT -- Dallas Drake ended his 15th NHL season by hoisting the Stanley Cup for the first time, in what was apparently his final game.

Drake, as expected, has told the Detroit Red Wings he is leaning toward retirement, general manager Ken Holland said.

The physical left wing provided some much needed abrasiveness, particularly in the playoffs. He had signed a one-year free-agent contract with Detroit last summer because he wanted a good opportunity to win his first championship. The 39-year-old had three goals and three assists in 65 regular season games and appeared in all 22 postseason games, picking up a goal and three assists. Drake, who began his career with the Red Wings in 1992, had 177 goals and 300 assists in 1,009 games.

The Red Wings will look to replace him through free agency, which begins at noon on Tuesday. They also have an internal option in Tomas Kopecky, whose season ended on April 3, when he suffered a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament and sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

"If we can get a gritty, third-line guy at our price, we'll look into it," Holland said. "We've got some internal options."

Holland said Kopecky, 26, might not be ready for the start of training on Sept. 20 but is hoping to return for the regular season opener on Oct. 9 or shortly thereafter.

"He feels everything is on schedule," Holland said. "He's not sure if he'll be ready to go on the ice the first day of camp, but is hoping to have everything cranked up by Oct. 1."

Kopecky's ice time increased in the three weeks prior to his injury as he stepped up his physical play. He finished with five goals and seven assists in 77 games.

"I think Kopecky was just starting to come on when he got hurt," Holland said. "He likes to play physical. We think he can develop into that third-line guy. We like his range, he can shoot the puck, he just needs experience."

Holland mentioned young Justin Abdelkader, because of his size and ruggedness, as a potential replacement for Drake, but said he probably needs some time in Grand Rapids (AHL).

Stuart passes tests, talks continue

Defenseman Brad Stuart had his ailing shoulder looked at on Wednesday by a specialist, who reported everything is fine, Holland said. He'll continue contract talks with Stuart's agent until Tuesday. If he isn't signed by then, both sides indicated he is likely to go elsewhere.

The Red Wings are trying to convince Stuart to take less than what he could get on the open market. He was offered a multiyear deal at slightly less than the $3.5 million he earned last season.

"I've sold everybody on a certain philosophy and the way we do business and I have to continue to do that," Holland said. "In my conversations with (agent) Pat Brisson, they want to buy into the program. It's all about finding a number. They got some numbers in mind, I got some numbers. We'll see if something comes of it."

Brisson didn't return calls seeking comment.

The Red Wings are close to signing defenseman Andreas Lilja to a two-year deal for slightly more than the $1 million he earned last season and Chris Chelios to a one-year contract for around the same amount he made last season ($850,000).

Zetterberg deal will take time

Don't expect Henrik Zetterberg to sign a long-term extension on July 1 like San Jose's Joe Thornton did last year. Zetterberg has one year remaining on a contract that averages $2.65 million a season, but Holland doesn't anticipate a quick signing. He said he has had only preliminary talks with Zetterberg's agent and that no figures have been exchanged yet. His new deal is expected to be in the $7 million-a-year range.

"Over the course of the summer and as we get into camp I'd like to ramp things up," Holland said. "Free agency is getting more difficult. They got more and more options. It's going to take a long time."

Acquiring goalie is key

Holland believes goaltender Jimmy Howard is ready to make the leap to the NHL and serve as Chris Osgood's backup next season. But he said the club must have another veteran goalie in place before training camp for depth and insurance, someone who would compete with Howard for the job. He might have some interest in one of the goalies recently bought out by his club, such as Ray Emery (Ottawa) or Marc Denis (Tampa Bay), if the price is right. They're not going to spend more than $1 million on a one-year deal for a backup or No. 3 goalie.

Odds & ends

Holland told the agents for Aaron Downey and Darren McCarty that he is interested in bringing them back but isn't going to make offers until after July 1. Ideally, he would like to sign them to two-way contracts, where they would earn less if sent to Grand Rapids. ... Unless there is a change before the schedule is released in mid-July, the Red Wings will open the regular season at home on Oct. 9 against Toronto. The game, which will feature the Stanley Cup banner-raising ceremony, will be shown on Versus and a special edition of Hockey Night in Canada. ... The 2008-09 salary cap was officially set Thursday at $56.7 million, up from $50.3 million last season. The Red Wings have about $40 million committed to 16 players.